Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-03-03
A autographed Coincidence.

A Chlr0grdphlCaI Coincidence.
The morning NAH had just been delivered
at The Office OF the Crescent, in whose contents
the editor was Immediately engrossed Sud-
denly, q change came over the editorial
equilibrium, as of extreme impatience. A
quick light flashed from those clear brown
eyes Of hers, In a perfect blaze. For, be 1t
kown, that the editor of the Crescent was a
lady, amiable and omplishcd-bandsome
wlthal. One 10 attract, better still, one on
whom reliance could be placed in times OF
emergency.
She was not young-so to speak, neither
was she old, nor in the slightest degree pdsse
The editor of the Crescent was at the very
height of her womanhood and CT her power
The object of her displeasure at this moment,
was letter, an ordinary appearing letter, in
fashionable cream envelope. This letter was
unhestatingly laid aside and with the seal
unbroken. the slender fingers may have
trembled little, but they were none the less
relentless of purpose. Resuming her occupa-
tion her brow cleared, and, in the press Of
business tie circumstance was forgotten.
month from this date another letter, also
in cream envelope, and In the same handwrit-
ing, came to the EDITORS hand. With cold,
business like exactness, this letter, still I'M
opened, was placed beside its fellow of the
month previous. Evidently the handwriting
was recognized by her. and from circumstan-
ces best known to herself, especially offensive.
Tn a weeks time there arrived another until
at length, five of these cream envelopes lay
piled one upon another. But with the advent
II ,, tl,,n $50 la
became enraged. Such persistence amounted
topersecution, and called for prompt meas
ures of suppression. Deliberately enclosing
the five letters in an express package, super
scribed TO Rowland Browne, Jr., Brownville,
Wisconsin, she once more dismissed the sub
ject from her mind.
The courts OF the county seat of Brownville,
Wisconsin, had but recently adjourned, fol-
lowed by state Of lassitude on the part of
lawyers and judges. BY some legal ledgerde-
main, best known to the fraternity, the most
unimportant suits had been continued to The
September term. Therefore these august adj
ministrators OF justice were duly impressed
with sense of having done their whole duty,
toward themselves and their fellowmen.
Rowland Browne, Jr, was no exception to
the prevailing dizziness, upon this warm July
afternoon. True, he had made decided hit
in his Fourth of July grafton, without doubt
his chances for congressional nomination from
that district were fairly assured; socially he
was popular. He a jolly good fellow every
body agreed. A human, fesh-and- blood kind
OF man; one, none too good for earth, and yet
not unfit for heaven. But Rowland Browne,
Jr,, felt in the depths of his nature, a want
Life seemed objectIess. What was he living
for anyway Ambition was good so far as it
went, but ambition was only part of his life.
His nature was sympathetic, he delighted in
the everyday amenities of living. He was Just
thirty-two and, bah! his Office at this moment
was like a shaker settlement, except that al
ready 1t wore grimy, neglected appearance
However this had happened, he had never in
tended it. His dreams had, indeed been quite
different. There was Henrietta Seymour, he
suddenly remembered. He had acted like a
scoundrel, as she regarded that affair, con-
nected with Prof. j. She would not listen to
an explanation, then, and on his return from
Yale she was gone. The family had returned
to the East, they said, Anyway he had lost
all clew to her. "But swearl he exclalme /,
In burst of emotion, Il was as innocent as
an archang'l of wrong toward her."
nc hah hSNcl sSSu u UiIi quite like henrlcJ-
ia Seymour; those clear, direct ewes of hers
were constant reproach to him; he could not
escape them. "She was what is called
talented every one acknowledged that He,
Prof. j., admired her, so did /; and how
should | have known the old curmudgeon want
ed to marry herr He should have been con-
tent with science and let love alone; 1t wasn't
good continuation. That one can't do
two things at once, is a wise marlin. Well, l
never quite understood the matter; never
shall, now"
Roland Browne, Jr., 1t was very evident was
fast approaching the confines Of sentimental.
. ism this quiet July afternoon. humble bee
noisily explored the hooks and corners of his
Office, alightjng upon the bust of Lincoln
above the bookcase. ''Wcll," he said, retro
spectiyely, ''old Abe stood the sting of many
marauder's beak unmoved, simple, and
grand b the last"
But shoe! get out there palm leaf IN
his hand, Rowland Browne, Jr., reused him
self TO pursue the offender to the doorway
whats the use Of screens I'd like TO know
anyway. Hello! William, lctterss god
send lay them on the table there and here
William drive that rascally bumble-bee on
OF these sacred precincts sacred to law an,
order, eh!"
Seating himself to his more agreeable occu
patton, letter after letter was scanned an
placed on file for immediate answer, or other
wise, as the case might require. The last re
naming document proved to be somewha
bulky. Law papers-that Smith affair" bu
no; the superscr!ption attracts his attentio
by kind OF magnetism; ''ths is no client
document" Starting from the lounging posi-
ton In which he had thrown himself. he CT
amned 1t carefully. "TIenrietta's handwri
ing, could swear, should know it among
thousand; it's characteristic with vengeanc
severely characteristic, as Ihave good caus
for remembering. A certain note received
times past every pen-stroke Of which WI
barbed with scorn, renders me peculiarly sci
stive TO the subject.
but, whew one, two, three, four, five lc
tiers, and directed to the editor Of the Crescea
The devill and unopened at that. What do
1t meant the superscription appears to
mine-plain as daylight. But howe whenl
must be that am either a clairvoyant. or
lunatic, or somnambuist at the very bes
may be all, or any of these for ought know
IT looks like it. With which supposition
moral irresponsibility, will take the liberty
cPShih- iN'tSi hAot, MAY 1000, pos
mark undecipherable. Here goes:n
"EDTToR OF THE CREsoEaT:
DEAR SIN: lease return the MS, which pl
tune you have decided to reject as not quite sui
bic for your paper, soon convenient !
about starting for Etna Green small town ado
ing this, for visit, and would like to dispose of
Ms. IN some way before 20 ng, or / might like
take Il with me- hope IN the future to improve I
On this poor effort. and sorry to have trOubl
you. VERY respectfully
"LIDA LETT LATHRoP'
"We,l, this beats me; treated the g
shabby enough, I'll be bound. Suitabel
doubt If this editor ever had SO good pie
OF writing in his possession. cold bloode
unsultablel indeedi There is nothing Ii
being behind the scenes to become disillusIC
lied, find. Editors are worse-worse tn
lawyers. Is II iossible that this editor can
Henrietta Seymour, OF course she was p
gresslye--what young girl is notl But,
the other hand, she was exclusive, she b
blood in her veins--the blood Of all |
Howardsl But why in the name of wond
should these letters have been directed to I
and by whoml She, Henrietta Seymour, v
never given TO practical jokes; she was
farthest possible from that; and vet IL 10,